Loads of Races by the Sea
Released On 16th Oct 2026
Abington Marathon
From Dan: Abingdon Marathon (Sub 3 Club) 2:57. Hard works paid off. That’s my 3rd marathon PB this year….. loved every mile of that. Never thought I’d ever achieve a Sub 3…. In need of a beer now. Marathon 86
2:57 for me, 2:59 for Darren
From Rachael: What a great day at the Abingdon Marathon! Really well organised, lovely marshals and such a fantastic atmosphere from start to finish. Huge congratulations to Dan and Darren for smashing their goal of sub-3 hours — absolutely incredible! I had a bit of a fall along the way, so I didn’t quite manage the sub-5 hours I was hoping for, but I was pretty close! Would definitely recommend the Abingdon Marathon to anyone considering it.
From Deanna: What a brilliant marathon, well organised, more support than I expected, a lovely atmosphere and a STUNNING route! I definitely recommend it! I'm in a bit of shock over this one tbh, I genuinely didn't know what I was going to be able to do today so I went out with a goal of at least 8 min miles until mile 20 and then see what happens - I achieved that and whilst in those latter miles I had to dig deeper than I've ever dug before ~ I cannot believe I came away with a time of 3:32 which is a good for age time. Massive well done to Daniel Stephen James McFarlane & Darren Ragnar Mackle for smashing under 3 hours! What absolute legends you are! & Another massive well done to Rachael Quick for absolutely smashing it too!
Eden Project Marathon
From Lindsay: Eden project marathon for Stephen Warren and I today. The day started with some misinformation regarding the bus to the start, meaning Steve and i had already clocked over 4000 steps to the bag and then to the start. I informed Marshalls at the bottom that the staff at the top need to get the runners on the buses, not the supporters, like we were informed lol. This is a really nice marathon but it's not for the faint hearted. It's hilly and has cut off points which luckily we made. It also has a cut-off time of 5.5 hours so the pressure is on from the beginning.. luckily the sun shone, and as we had a hotel booked for 2 nights up the road we didn't have an early wake up call lol.. the support from Marshalls throughout the course was brilliant and very much needed. The pasty and Tribute beer at the end is also a very welcome sight. A lovely (should be lol) 1 mile downhill finish into the Eden project is a tad technical after all the hills in the legs lol. Not sure i would do this one again though, but another number done (no 35 marathon done in total and no 12 this year). Now time for a carvery and beer or 2 lol.
Great South Run 2026
From Margarita: Last year, I signed up for the Great South Run during the early-bird entry. Having taken part five years ago, I fancied giving it another go! Tracy signed up too as part of her 10-mile challenge for her hat, so we decided to make a weekend of it and headed to Southsea parkrun yesterday to get things started. It was lovely to see Debbie Rennard last night at the pizza place and Anita Garrett out on the course today! It's always a bonus seeing familiar faces when you're away running.
Race morning was a little chilly, but the sun was shining! The race was really well supported and mainly flat, although I definitely noticed a few sneaky hills along the way! Running through the historic dockyard was a real highlight and made the course even more special. I enjoyed this 10-miler so much more than last week's race, and it definitely showed in my time! I managed to knock a whopping 20 minutes off my time from five years ago and came away with my second-fastest 10K, 15K and 10-mile times of the year. I absolutely bloody loved this race! Sometimes everything just clicks, and this was definitely one of those days! A massive well done to Tracy too, who smashed it and achieved a Great South PB! I didn't spot any other runners from Yeovil out there today, but if any of you were there and have photos, please feel free to send them over and I'll happily add you into the post! A brilliant weekend of running, sunshine, pizza and lovely familiar faces.
Weymouth 10
From Linda: Weymouth 10 Mile race. A beautiful sunny but chilly day, quiet a lot of us from YTRRC we're there as it was a Championship Race and a requirement for our annual hats. The wind was slightly against us on the way out but was alright for the rest of the route. Joe was the first male from the club to get over the line, followed by Jack and them Adam Underdown... Paul Gilbie was somewhere in the mix . Gill Pearson was first lady to get over the line. 2nd overall, followed by Sadie Essex then Rach Pep . They got 3rd ladies team. Well done them. Great company, loved the race. Well done everyone. We didn't get everyone in the group photo. Next year is their 65th anniversary, and they will be doing t-shirts!
Lightning Bolt 10k
From Kev: Great day put with my eldest daughter. We did Lightning Bolt 10k near Chippenham - her 2nd 10k and she smashed it in 50:50 an 8 min PB. I did 45:59 The 59 matched my new Birthday age today . Then treated to food at Boston Tea Party in Bath. a lovely day.
Club Championship
From Lesley: Please see the attached list of Championship Races for 2027. The first race will be the Full Monty on 6th December 2026 (get your entries in quickly, as it will sell out. Then, of course, it's Chard Flyer on 1st January. Let's see if we can beat this year's number of competitors who have done 10 or more of the races. Please read the rules on the website. Champ Races 2027
Santa Dash
From Lindsay: Evening all. The Santa Dash 2026 will take place on Sunday 13th Dec at 10.30 am. We are Looking for volunteers to help set up and Marshall on the day, please. Also, any cake and refreshment donations will be gratefully received by our wonderful refreshment ladies, I'm sure Denise Byrd and Mel Dodge. All proceeds will be going to prostate cancer dept at YDH this year, after a successful year last year where we donated 1k each to diabetes and stroke units at YDH. I really appreciate any help you can provide.
Weekend Running
From Tim: Just four of us today for Cavity trays Saturday run into the countryside. Beautiful morning with a bit of a chill but with Chris's pace JC and I were soon warm. Down to Monty we went then up to Odcombe even managed a bit of off road. A bit over 10k on a hilly route. Breakfast was had at no.5. Thanks all.
From Helen: Sunday Club Run complete- Yeovil Half route (without the first little loop!) with the gang, plus 6 miles before with Dariusz, and then felt so good continued for an extra 2 miles after with Sam and Dariusz thanks for the company all, really enjoyed it all! Now let the taper begin woop woop! Yummy Salted Pecan Cookies after too; definitely another repeater recipe.
From Sharon: Another lovely sunny Sunday albeit a bit chilly for a run from Yeovilton for me and Chris this morning. Plan was for 8 miles but decided while out to change route making it 10 miles. Good to see others running out at Yeovilton doing their thing and bumping in to TerryandKaryl Gill.
Park Runs
From Terry: Five Arches Parkrun for Kaz & I this morning.
From Donna: Street parkrun and a course PB for me today 29:40. Other Yeovil runners there too, but the photo taken afterwards as I did the first-timers briefing before and was late.
From Helen: A lovely sunny yet fresh morning at Compton Abbas Airfield Parkrun for us this morning beautiful views but tough running on grass and not an overly inspiring route. Unfortunately, they were fully booked for breakfast so we headed back and stopped at The Farmyard Kitchen in Sherborne for a delicious brekki instead.
From Margarita: Tracy and I travelled up to Southsea yesterday, ready for the Great South Run tomorrow, so what better way to shake out the legs than with a parkrun! We opted for Southsea parkrun as it was nice and close to where we were staying. A lovely, flat paperclip-shaped out-and-back course — perfect for a gentle run!
We both kept things nice and easy, saving our legs (and for me my lungs) for tomorrow’s big event. And to top it all off, I completed my Snakes achievement today! Woohoo! Now to enjoy the rest of the day and get ready to take on the Great South Run tomorrow!
PUB RUN – CHARLTON ADAM – (15TH OCTOBER 2026)
From Mark: We returned to Charlton Adam for the first time in a while, as the pub had been closed. Last time I dove into the car park, there were open fields to the south. Tonight there was a large new housing estate blocking the view.
I think fast tonight were Guy, Rob, Ann, Mat, and Gary. Not so fast were Alison, Mel, Louise, Rachael, Anita, JC, and myself with Alison leading. I think Phil was injured tonight.
Ours was a simple clockwise loop, over the railway bridge and past the old phone box in Keinton Mandeville. A right turn took us to a busy A37. Great care was then needed for a hundred yards or so until we turned right off the main road, and headed back to the pub.
Thanks Alison for leading, and thanks Phil for organising. It’s great that the pub is open again. It seems to have been refurbished as well.
